TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Six people have died of diphtheria in December. The number diphtheria deaths have increased to 38 from 32 cases throughout January to November.
Health Ministry Surveillance and Quarantine Director Jane Soepardi said that as of December 11, there were over 600 reports of inpatient diphtheria cases in 20 provinces. The number may continue to rise as re-vaccination for children ages 0-19 was only started yesterday.
East Java is one of the regions hit the hardest by diphtheria. This month alone, the Provincial Health Office has treated 62 diphtheria patients, one of whom has died. The rate is higher than 265 cases occurred between January and November with 11 deaths. “Most cases were found in Pasuruan District,” Health Office head Kohar Hari Santoso said. The province has since declared a state of emergency. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is yet to follow suit.
Read also: Health Minister: Diphtheria Immunization is Important
Diphtheria is a communicable caused by bacteria that affect mucous membrane of the nose and throat. The disease can lead to death as bacteria block the respiratory system, causing myocarditis complications or inflammation of the heart muscle that may end with kidney chronic disease and circulatory failure. The symptoms include 38 degrees fever, development of white membrane in the throat, difficulty to swallow, swollen neck and respiratory problems and snoring sound.
The disease can actually be prevented with mandatory diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) immunization administered to children from age 2. However, the Health Ministry said that diphtheria cases have risen as parents have refused vaccination for their children due to religious reasons or others. Data from the Ministry show that 66 percent of diphtheria patients have not been vaccinated.
Therefore, on Monday, the Health Ministry and three provinces simultaneously held immunization in a bid to tackle the spread of diphtheria through a program called Outbreak Response Immunization (ORI). Jakarta, West Java and Banten report that on the first day of ORI, thousands of children were vaccinated. Eight million children are expected to receive vaccines in the next couple of weeks.
INDRI MAULIDAR